Born at Charmoilles (Haute-Marne), July 9, 1825.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, November 8, 1849.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, November 9, 1850. (no. 287)
Dispensed from his vows, April 27, 1859.
Laurent Lallement was born at Charmoilles in the diocese of Langres on July 9, 1825. On November 8, 1849, he entered the novitiate of Notre-Dame de l’Osier where he made his oblation on November 9, 1850. At the General Council session of October 20, 1850, he was admitted to vows by a vote of three to one. In this regard, the secretary general wrote: “Solid enough in virtue; the information that we have received about him is adequate. He does have a character that is a bit odd; but he is good; average endowment; he would do well in preaching.”
After a final year in theology at the major seminary of Marseilles, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on May 29, 1851 and immediately sent off to Ceylon with three other priests destined for the diocese of Colombo. Bishop de Mazenod communicated their departure to Father Semeria on June 3, saying that he is sending Father Pulicani and three other priests (Lallement, Perréard and Duffo) who “are hardly more than fledglings, but are men of good will. You will get a lot of good out of them. They are indeed capable of doing well.” Upon their arrival in Ceylon on July 25, 1851, they were scattered throughout the vicariate of Colombo and saw their superior Father Semeria very infrequently; he resided in Jaffna.
Father Lallement worked with enthusiasm, but at the beginning of 1856, a complaint was lodged against him with Father Semeria “concerning grave matters with regard to morals.” Father Semeria wrote to the Founder and “believed that it was necessary to recall to France this poor wretch in order to assess his case and to judge whether he is worthy of pardon or whether it would be better to send him away.” In the General Council session of March 11, 1856, the decision was made to recall him. His name is listed among the nine priests enrolled in the “advanced courses” at Notre-Dame de la Garde in 1858-1859.
At the General Council’s session of March 10, 1859, the decision was taken to dispense him from his vows for the following reasons: “Father Lallement,” we read in the session’s report, “giving in to a passion which had to such an extent compromised him in Ceylon, gave himself over to drinking an entire bottle of brandy which he found some place and became completely intoxicated. After that, there was nothing for it but to adopt the course of going to hide himself in some monastery to do penance.” He went to the Cistercians at La Trappe and was dispensed from is vows on April 27, 1859.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
